Daniel’s Comments on Comments

There probably won’t be much to blog about Daniel and his case for the next eight weeks, because he’s not scheduled to be sentenced until September 23rd. This doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon the blog or anything, but the posts might be fewer and farther in between (as you possibly have already noticed – so sorry).

I want you guys to know that I truly value the blog readers. It doesn’t matter if you like what I write about or not, I just think it’s great that people take time to read anything I’ve written at all. I’m especially appreciative when comments are left. I know it takes me FOREVER to reply to comments. I will be honest with you, I need to be in a certain state of mind to tackle comment reading and replying. I have to be feeling “thick skinned,” I guess.

I have mentioned writing a book about this topic more than once in the blog. Some of you think it’s a great idea and some of you think I’m fame seeking and money grubbing. That’s cool. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. My dad used to say “Opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one.”

I’m not calling you folks assholes. So please re-read the quote before you get all “typey typey” on the comments page.

I think I do need to shift my focus into figuring out what kind of book I want to write. Because I’m not exactly sure yet. I do know it won’t be your regular “true crime” book. Which is funny, because that’s what I’d set out to write in the first place.

As for this current post, I’m letting Daniel help me “write” it.

I always send him copies of my posts after they are made public. I want to get his take on what I wrote, and find out if he agrees or disagrees with any points I’ve made. I also send him your comments.

He started writing a few replies to the comments for me because:

He felt compelled to reply to some of you.

He wanted me to know his thoughts and feelings about some of the readers’ opinions.

He didn’t want me to have to assume his answers to readers’ questions.

Admittedly, Daniel was really only writing his comments for me. He didn’t mean for me to put his words all over the blog. I talked to him about it, though.

I explained that a lot of what he says is thought provoking, and conveys the Daniel I see and have befriended. I asked for permission to share a bit of what he wrote to me. He agreed and was fine with me paraphrasing or editing him (for clarity of understanding and fluidity of language).

Unfortunately, Daniel didn’t start at the very beginning.

Which is a very good place to start.

I have been reading this from start to finish since watching Dateline, which I saw by chance.

“I believe the entire amount taken was $1500 (from three days of ATM withdrawals). But the amount is of money is only worth bringing up if you choose to believe the prosecution’s theory of a financial motive. Either way, no amount of money is worth a person’s life.”

Is there an official transcript of the police report in which Rachel said she saw the “phantom” hooded friend? Since the whole case against her is circumstantial, her wording is crucial. In interviews (like Dr. Phil) she says it’s doubtful that she used the words “I saw…”, and that she thinks she put it more like “there was…” (presumably because Dan had told her of a third party and at that point she had no reason to disbelieve him). Everyone’s arguing, but so far, nobody that I know of has come forth and just shown what it is she EXACTLY said.

Also, where is she now? Does she have to go to trial too? I heard she was arrested with $1M bail. Has she been in jail all this time? If not, how much time has she spent behind bars? ~ Scott, January 31st, 2016, commenting on the post “Guilty – Part 5”

First Daniel made a joke about how he hopes this wasn’t his defense attorney, Scott Sanders.

“You can find a copy of Rachel’s statement by reviewing her interrogation interview.”

Ummm, and how might we obtain that, Daniel?

Daniel continued, “The first time Rachel talked to the Costa Mesa Police Department was at the apartment of Rachel’s brother, Noah. During that initial contact, Rachel said she ‘saw’ the third unknown guy who was with Sam on the day of his murder. At her first official interrogation, Rachel again stated that she ‘saw’ the guy.

“After that,” Daniel continued, “Rachel’s story changed. Then she claimed what she meant to say to the police is that she had just ‘heard’ there was a third man from Daniel. She believed it to be fact and she was trying to give detectives all the information without having any omissions.

“It’s tricky to determine what she said and what she meant, but why would she choose to say that she actually ‘saw”’ this man originally? Rachel has been very careful when making statements, so what reason / benefit would there be for her to tell the police that a third man was present?

“Likewise, remember that Rachel failed to say that Chris Williams was with Rachel at her and my apartment when Sam was murdered. Why make one person vanish (especially someone who can be your alibi), and yet make up the existence of a third unknown mystery man? You will have to ask her that yourself, but if she had nothing to hide, why lie?

“Also, Rachel is out on bail currently. It wasn’t a million dollars. Maybe closer to $3,500. She spent four days in jail during Thanksgiving of 2012.

“Rachel was offered a plea bargain a while back for testifying against me. She refused.”

I am fascinated as to Daniel’s thinking process by planning these two murders and the disposal of the one body. I feel that he is much like all the rest of us but he faltered that one time. Had he not he would be free today. I am curious as to what his specific plans were in committing the murders and what he imagined the outcome would be????? ~ R. Harris, February 1st, 2016

(You and me both, R).

Daniel’s response:

“Well Mr. Harris, let me just say there wasn’t much planning in this tragedy. Things happened and it became a ’what to do’ situation as a result. I’m human, like the rest of you. We all fuck up sometimes. I never had any criminal background, and I lived a very typical life. I know it may be difficult to believe, but there was no specific plan in Sam’s murder. Everything fell apart in trying to ‘clean up’ a horrible mistake. If anyone deserves to be in jail, it’s me.”

Seems unlikely that he faltered once, and then went on to kill two innocent people, laughing while dismembering one. At the very least, he “faltered” twice. ~ Bill, April 2, 2016

Daniel’s response:

“Hi Bill. I have faltered way more than twice. But this was my worst. This situation is so emotionally painful. Life is irreplaceable. Death is so final. And so many people are affected by it. I never felt my actions would cause so much damage. It is difficult to think of the future when you’re so caught up in the moment. I let emotion get the better of me and now so many people are suffering the consequences as a result. I would gladly give up my life if it meant I could bring back Sam and Julie.”

That’s it for this post. I hope you found Daniel’s responses interesting. If you’re anything like me, you probably have a slew of new questions now as a result. If so, I hope you share them in the comments. And if you have any thoughts on the direction you like to see the book take, I’d welcome those as well.

20 thoughts on “Daniel’s Comments on Comments”

Thanks to you and to Daniel for the answer. This is the first instance of humanity from Daniel. He needs to speak up whenever he feels comfortable about it. It shows people that he is human and that he is in many ways just like the rest of us. We all make mistakes. Daniel’s, however, turned out to be a monumental chain reaction that he couldn’t understand or stop. If fate allowed, I would get Daniel out of prison – send him to an anonymous destination with a new identity. Even his life is too precious to waste. He is in my prayers.

Well, I think ur book should only focus on Dan and no one else since u don’t know anyone else involved ur biggest mistake I would say has been you picking dans side from the get go and because of this you sacrificed any chance to get to know anyone else involved… And I’m shocked to hear how Dan talked about Rachel here. Very shocked by the tone of his words about her…. He is such a douche bag so selfish.

I’ve never really thought of myself as taking Daniel’s side. I just consider myself his friend. I actually hope that Rachel would want to talk to me at some point. It would be a way to assure that her “side” was fairly represented. I have plenty of theories about Rachel.

You probably won’t believe this, but Daniel doesn’t spend his time badmouthing Rachel. He uses words like smart, funny, sarcastic and talented when discussing her. He also often reminds me that it was Rachel’s friendship and love that helped get him out of a deep depression early on in their relationship.

I’m not trying to be a smart-aleck here, but what exactly did Daniel say about Rachel that you found shocking? He talked about the descrepencies in Rachel’s statements to the police, but I’m guessing you were less bothered by what he said, and more by how he said it?

Also, I know you don’t like me very much DD, but if you really are someone close to Rachel, you might want to consider chatting with me some time about the Rachel you know and love.

Remember, this blog is not the book. It was just a place for me to ponder ideas and study the case. The more I can learn the better.

Debbie Do is doing with Rachel exactly what she accuses you of doing for Daniel. Rachel is obviously her friend and she can see nothing odd about Rachel. She needs to examine her relationship with Rachel – I’ll bet that if she thought about their past that she would see where Rachel has used her and told her half truths in their past. Rachel is a narcissist and has no empathy. It’s there, Debbie Do, you just have to question yourself.
If the time is right, ask Daniel how he feels about the death penalty. Does he feel that death or life would be more fair? Also I would like his take on Rachel and her real feelings for him. Did she manipulate him in their relationship? He needs to speak to you if not to reporters about his feelings on all that has occurred. We need to see what you see in him – his humanity. Tell him that we don’t believe the confession – that we don’t believe that he planned these murders. How did they occur? We need to hear him speak.
One other thing that bothers me is the time that will have occurred before Rachel goes to trial. I don’t know who she has chosen to represent her but they have had much time to plan her escape from punishment. She was involved – Daniel has to say it – that’s the only way she will come to justice. I pray that he will have been distanced from her affection or influence so that he can see that including her will only be fair.

Thank you for your comment. I always appreciate your thoughtful questions and the points you make. I have to wonder if the OCDA has any plans to call Daniel as a witness in Rachel’s case. Do you think he would answer honestly? I do.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Rachel’s trial won’t begin until after Daniel has been sentenced.

I would never assist in you capitalizing off this awful tragedy, I wont be commenting anymore. Thank u for responding about the email question though. I’m not trying to help you write your ridiculous book to make money and feed ur stupid ego from other peoples lives and deaths. Come on lady! Have some class and dignity and do the humane and right thing and stop this stupid book idea. This story should not be written about these people have been put through enough… Dont be so selfish and greedy and Have a damn heart please. Goodbye

I would like to know what punishment Daniel thinks he deserves? He talks like it was some sort of accident or something he didn’t mean to do. He dismembered a human being after killing him and killing another. That was no accident.

That’s a good question. He definitely thinks he deserves to be where his is right now. I’m not sure if he believes he should spend the rest of his life in prison or not, but I’m pretty sure he does not believe he should be put to death for his crimes.

If Daniel truly thinks that he is where he deserves to be, then that is on death row. I also believe Daniel deserves to be on death row. Only thing that is crappy about California death penalties is they take about 15 to 20 years to actually get carried out. Not soon enough. This man is an animal.

IBOma
In Daniel’s worrped mind, wonder why he thinks he shouldn’t be put to death for his crimes? Sam was such a friend to Daniel that he was going to help with paying for a wedding. He blindly went with this monster while Daniel was planning exactly how he was going to kill this acquaintance. Sam was Daniel’s friend, that can’t be said for Daniel. Daniel is a taker, he takes the attention at the cheap theaters, life of the parties are takers, all eyes on them. It’s always about Them.
I am not the almighty judge and am a fence sitter when it comes to the death penalty. But for Daniel, I want death for him. (Shocking?) I hope you allow Daniel to read this. He must answer to an even higher power one day, yes Daniel it is coming for all of us.
I have been upset that we are taking in terrorist that kill, and cut their heads off, but we must fear the Daniels of America.
I am rambling because I am thinking of this as a parent and grandparent. I don’t know what Daniel needs but it’s not more of my time.
As for your blog, find something else to entertain yourself, you just may be using his man, and he would probably kill you where you stand.

I believe that life imprisonment, without the possibility of parole, is much worse than death, per se. If you are sentenced to spend your WHOLE life behind bars, you have actually received a very slow death sentence. If you are destined to die, I think most people would prefer to achieve death quickly, rather than have it drawn out for decades. Remember Sirhan Sirhan, who was given life in prison for having assassinated Robert Kennedy in 1968? He’s been languishing in jail for 48 years! I’m sure he deeply regrets not having finished with it all half a century ago. He has been completely forgotten by nearly everyone, including his own family. This is as it should be. Daniel should “enjoy” the same fate: a lifelong death.

Valid point, Zvi. I am NOT saying I feel bad for Daniel in his current living conditions. I don’t. But to be inside a small cell for 23 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year… I think your term “lifelong death,” is pretty accurate.

I think the one attribute of Daniel that has been left out in everyone’s description of him is the following: almost dead. You see, soon ()but not soon enough) Daniel will be painlessly put to sleep by an appreciative nation, since we must rid our world of murderous psychopaths such as Daniel. He MUST be put to death, and I would do it if they would let me.

Hello blog room. Yes what should be done. That poor Julie had a long life to live cut short. I am going to write in my own place on this soon. It is so sad. Some further matters must be reviewed in order then i will write more. Not here though because i dont know daniel but i do know he will never be my friend. Bad news guy who harmed others. Why would an adult do this site is odd. How does julie family think. It is an important work though and has a style to it. Very stylistic in a certain fashion. But i dont celebrate murder and dont attach a friend facebook idea. It is an important work. Has another in investigative online journalism been done like it? Important approach. Hey on wed i saw the wedding trussle an arch in the corner of the front yard rachel came by to see my daughter and her mother which is rachels aunt. I told my ex she might want to speak w authorities. Daniel is not my friend and wont ever be. Selah. Julie family i give my deepest condolences for what i see online so much life and love so young and lost in this time from the human family and them. F dw.

We all make mistakes. We may hurt the people we love. HOWEVER, what Daniel did is beyond sick. It is more than a mistake. He butchered two loving souls. He desecrated their bodies.
He will be put to death. And we will all be grateful for that when it happens. And one last thing. If you write a book give any money made to the victims. Otherwise you are just as evil as him.

Daniel Wozniak and I have had many discussions about the case. They have all been recorded. All of our letters to each other are opened and examined. That doesn’t mean I haven’t learned a great deal about the specifics of the crime and which parts of the confession aren’t actually true.

I am writing that book, so I’m not giving everything away here in the blog. :)
Thank you for your comment.